Adler quitting, CJOB layoffs sign that change needed in radio

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Charles Adler speaks while former mayor Sam Katz looks on in this 2010 file photo. Adler announced he’s leaving CJOB on Thursday. (BRIAN DONOGH/WINNIPEG SUN FILE PHOTO)

One of Winnipeg’s most recognizable radio voices is leaving town.

By David Larkins
WinnipegSunIMage
July 31, 2015

Charles Adler, a longtime fixture at radio station CJOB, announced at the start of his Thursday morning show that he has given the Corus-owned station notice. Like his morning show predecessor Peter Warren, Adler said he is moving to B.C. to be closer to family.

His last show at CJOB will be on Aug. 7. Geoff Currier, the longtime nighttime host, will be taking over Adler’s show.

Adler has been at the station for 17 years, mostly as its mid-morning host, with a few years spent as a national afternoon host on Corus stations across the country. He also hosted a show for about two years on the now-defunct Sun News Network.

“Our hope is that we can, and Geoff can, provide the kind of content to that audience,” CJOB general manager Scott Armstrong said. “Will it be somewhat different than what Charles offers? Sure it will be, perhaps stylistically. But from a content perspective, the content CJOB listeners are interested in, that focus doesn’t change.”

Adler’s announcement comes on the heels of more reported layoffs at the station, which for the first time in decades lost its hold on the top spot in Winnipeg’s radio ratings in the spring, to CBC Radio. Among the casualties is Jim Toth, who hosted an early-evening sports show.

Armstrong acknowledged the presence of all-sports TSN 1290 plays a role in how CJOB handles sports coverage.

“Notwithstanding our commitment as the home of the Bombers, sports outside of that has been not the focus for the radio station,” Armstrong said. “In our research, when it comes to CJOB, our focus is not sports. Our focus is on news, local information, and traffic and weather and covering the breaking news. That’s not to say we won’t cover sports when sports is the biggest story of the day. It’ll be our job to continue to reflect whatever Winnipeggers are talking about. There’s a sports station in town and we don’t anticipate chasing them in any form or fashion.”

Repeated attempts to reach Adler Thursday were unsuccessful.

Radio needs to adapt

Read More HERE

11 COMMENTS

  1. Oh brother – let’s hope so. He’s the last man standing that knows anything about how to do talk radio. Everything else is pasturized politically correct babble. Simi Sara anyone?

  2. sorry Bud, but I disagree. I think Adler would be the missing link, or ingredient. He brings the conservative slope to the NW airwaves, something badly missing for the last year. Not that I thought Good was that much of a conservative, but he gave that impression.

  3. Right on Rodger. As for Simi Sara, from what I understand she is the ONLY Journalist on air at NW. With the babble and ferry tale topics she delves into, such as if you found $150.000 of whatever, would you keep it? Is that journalistic reporting? Or is it a survey!, enough to have me tune her and NW out again…. and again I find her very Booring!!!

  4. If ‘NW was smart (and there’s a oxymoron!) they would replace that sorry excuse for a “broadcaster” they have on in the evening with Adler. But I doubt Ian K. has the cahonnies to do that.

  5. If you’re talking about Drex, I totally disagree with you. Perhaps its his accent which you can’t handle? Looking at the man’s background, he’s been in the industry for a number of years, the latter up until this gig with Corus was in management. I recently heard an interview with the man by Drew Dalby which is very revealing about him and his goals in broadcasting and here in Canada. I recall hearing Drex do his first talk show on NW filling in for Sean Leslie on the weekend a few years ago and found him to be a breath of fresh air.

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  7. continuously i used to read smaller content that also clear their motive, and that is also happening with this piece of writing which I am reading at this place.

  8. Those last two posts…WTF?

    I can live with others not agreeing with me. Adler is addled and missing link is a good description. Dreck is just that in my view.

  9. It would be ironic if CKNW brought in Adler to host a show considering all the changes. They cut a bunch of on air people in order to pay a host like Adler who should enjoy retirement. The CORUS executives should really be looking at a fresh approach to attract listeners.

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